Jeev slips further down at Irish Open

Adare Manor (Ireland), May 18 (IANS) First round leader Jeev Milkha Singh faltered for the second day in succession as he shot a three-over 75 in the third round and slipped down further to 36th at the Irish Open here. Jeev, the lone Indian to make the cut, had three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey in his 75 at the tough Adare Manor Golf and Resort course.

Jeev had a poor start with birdies on second and fourth, but a birdie on fifth gave him some respite. However, a double bogey on par-3 sixth spoilt his card. He steadied himself with three pars and a birdie on 10th before bogeys on 13th and 17th again messed up things. A closing birdie on 18th was a small consolation as he ended with a 75 following his second round 76.

He shot a 66 on the first day when he shared the lead.

Bradley Dredge snatched a one-stroke lead in the third round of the Irish Open with a birdie at the last hole. It gave him the outright lead with a 66 and was placed at nine under. A bogey at the start of the round did not deter him as he added seven birdies, five of them on the back nine.

Richard Finch and Lee Westwood, who had four birdies and an eagle over the last five holes, hold the next two places after rounds of 65 and 64.

Earlier in the second round, S.S.P. Chowrasia (69, 79) and Shiv Kapur (72, 76) missed the cut by one stroke while Jyoti Randhawa (76, 75) missed it by four. Jeev was 11th overnight after the second round,